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Philip Johnson is a Actor American born on 28 july 1991 at Detroit (USA)
Philip Johnson (born July 28, 1991 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American actor from Detroit, Michigan. A 2009 honors graduate of Cass Technical High School, Johnson currently attends the University of Michigan. He played the title character in the 2009 Lifetime Television film America based on the book by E.R. Frank. Acting opposite Rosie O'Donnell and Ruby Dee, Johnson portrayed a troubled teenager placed in a youth treatment facility after attempting suicide who struggled to work through his traumatic past experiences with foster care and sexual abuse.
America was Johnson's first film; his prior acting experience was limited to one middle school play. Johnson was discovered by America's executive producer Rosie O'Donnell and Larry Santisky at a Detroit coffee shop called Small Plates. O'Donnell, who was in town to work on America, told Entertainment Tonight that she sensed "a soulful kind of stillness" in Johnson. O'Donnell's casting crew had seen almost 200 kids for the role, but was still undecided, because the boy needed to be "vulnerable, fragile, wounded, broken and non-presentational". But Philip Johnson fit the bill perfectly. O'Donnell invited Johnson to read for the lead role the next day. Johnson impressed the cast and crew with his spot-on reading and got the role immediately.
In the movie, Johnson's younger brother, Steven Johnson, played the same character at age 10.
Source : Wikidata
Philip Johnson
America was Johnson's first film; his prior acting experience was limited to one middle school play. Johnson was discovered by America's executive producer Rosie O'Donnell and Larry Santisky at a Detroit coffee shop called Small Plates. O'Donnell, who was in town to work on America, told Entertainment Tonight that she sensed "a soulful kind of stillness" in Johnson. O'Donnell's casting crew had seen almost 200 kids for the role, but was still undecided, because the boy needed to be "vulnerable, fragile, wounded, broken and non-presentational". But Philip Johnson fit the bill perfectly. O'Donnell invited Johnson to read for the lead role the next day. Johnson impressed the cast and crew with his spot-on reading and got the role immediately.
In the movie, Johnson's younger brother, Steven Johnson, played the same character at age 10.
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Filmography of Philip Johnson (1 films)
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America (2009)
, 2hDirected by Yves Simoneau
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Rosie O'Donnell, Ruby Dee, Philip Johnson, Raquel Castro, Jade Yorker, Logan Huffman
Roles America
Rating61%
A biracial 17-year-old boy named America (Philip Johnson), who has experienced a difficult life of foster care and sexual abuse, undergoes counseling with psychiatrist Maureen Brennan (Rosie O'Donnell) to help him come to terms with his painful past of childhood trauma, including growing up with (and abandoned by) a crack-addicted mother (Toya Turner) and being shuffled through a series of foster homes including the Harpers (with Mrs. Harper played by Ruby Dee and Reggie Harper by Tim Rhoze). The film starts with Maureen Brennan (Rosie O'Donnell) at a group home where she is giving a small introduction about the outlook for most of the group home children's futures (most would most likely end up either living on the streets, in jail, or dead). A young America, emotionally vacant and suicidal, comes to the attention of Brennan. When she (Dr. B) tries to talk to America, he refuses to give her any answers about his childhood. Eventually Dr. B helps him understand his troubled past in order to find the courage to move on and survive. Helps him to forgive and forget, in order to be able to move forward in life.